MediaTel is reporting that Sky is to launch new VoD service on YouView... countering the weeks-old news that Sky was planning to compete with Youview when it announced in February that Sky content would be offered to UK households Over the Top (OTT) including unlimited access or ‘pay-as-you-go’... the first time that Sky has offered its television content without a contract and is expected to be launched later this year.

News from Liz Jaques
on the Youview agreement came out yesterday at MediaTel:

Sky is preparing to launch its new internet TV service via YouView.
The pay-TV broadcaster will roll out its over-the-top video player via YouView following the launch of the much-anticipated service from partners including the BBC and ITV in June.
Sky's service will feature a range of Sky entertainment, sports and film content, which will be available on-demand, via subscription or pay-per-view.

The digital film rental market grew 9 per cent last year (2011) according to IHS Screen Digest, making up roughly half of all movie rentals in the UK, currently a £400 million industry.

The new services come as the number of people signing up to Sky’s traditional pay TV services slowed. It added 40,000 TV customers in the second quarter to December 31 – missing analysts’ consensus forecasts of 58,000 and down on the 140,000 net additions in the same quarter the previous year.